DeNA is currently hosting a special event to celebrate their successful launch of The Drowning that occurred just over a week ago. Being a first person-shooter for the iOS market, the game attained a top 5 ranking of most downloaded free apps on the iPhone in 16 countries and top 5 on the iPad in 42 countries – not too shabby. Ben Cousins of the European development team had the following to say regarding the launch event:
It’s really exciting to continue the momentum of our worldwide launch with our very first live gameplay event called the Toxic Beast Hunt. This is another real first for a mobile FPS – adding variety to the game in the form of a weeklong competition where our players worldwide get matched up to co-operate and compete to hunt and take down rare and powerful monsters hidden across our game world. The great thing about our Boss Hunt events are that they enable everyone who’s enjoying The Drowning to play together using our innovative asynchronous matchmaking system. You could get matched up to co-operate with people in your neighborhood or from the other side of the world. Time zones and schedules don’t matter – our game system organizes everything. If you fight effectively as a team with your ad hoc brothers-in-arms you can win items of real value such as rare weapons and other useful equipment. We hope everyone out there enjoys this event. See you on the hunting grounds!”
The ‘Toxic Beat Hunt’ will be occurring through August 14th, and players will have to join cooperatively as well as compete amongst themselves to gain prizes. A new foe has entered the fray as an old power plant has created more powerful, strange creatures. Defeat the toxic beats in order to claim your prize. Join the battle now by downloading the game for iOS (here). Be sure to take a look at the end of the world trailer below!
During SMASH! 2013 at the Bushiroad Card Games Room, we got a chance to sit down with Bushiroad’s Noel in order to discuss the card games craze, the tournaments and workshops on show as well as the wildly popular Cardfight!! Vanguard.
During our chat, Noel explained that the big four card games on the scene right now are Cardfight!! Vanguard, Weiss Schwartz, Yu-Gi-Oh! and Pokemon. Could card games be making a comeback on the waves of popularity from Cardfight!! Vanguard and Weiss Schwartz? Watch the interview to find out.
For a full rundown on the Bushiroad Card Games Room at SMASH! 2013 you can check out our coverage of that here. Be sure to check out the interview video below.
Developers Bundle Stars have unleashed an amazing deal upon Steam with their Wheels of Steel bundle for only $1. This is an amazing deal with each game costing around $0.33 each. The three games included pack a varied combination of action, racing, and strategy sure to keep gamers enthralled.
The bundle includes the action game Wasteland Angels which is a rough and tumble journey of revenge set in a dystopian future during World War III with majority of the worlds population eliminated. Gamers take control of the lead heroine, the eponymous Wasteland Angel, as she roars through the violent wasteland in her heavily armored vehicle protecting innocent civilians from a rogue military, roughneck gangs, and enemy mutants.
The second title, Crash Time II, is an intense racing title where players are tasked with patrolling the Autobahn as a member of the police force. Solving crimes as you race with fully destructible vehicles at over 500MPH taking down dangerous criminals in intense, blisteringly fast action.
Finally the bundle is rounded out by the game Tank Universal, a game packed with intense 3D tank battles. Players have access to over 20 levels to wage war on as well as long and short ranged attacks with many players at once. The game also has an intelligent AI system to give gamers a run for their money in single player modes. Action can take place in a variety of manners including long range third person views and the option to get in close first person view and take the fight to the enemy. This bundle is only available for a limited time so jump on this deal while you have the chance exclusively on Steam.
Here we are, we’re back again for another round of CC Comic Zone! This is the place where we come to talk about all things Comics, Manga, Graphic Novels and, pretty much, all illustrated media! Once again I’m Frank Inglese and this week I want to get into the nitty gritty of a topic that doesn’t essentially divide people but it does definitely get them thinking. This weeks article is called “They’re Our Only Hope” and what I want to talk about here are all those characters who snatch the spotlight and are the only ones who can ever seem to save the day. Like everything else there is both a good and a bad side to this “trope” and I’m here to sort it out.
Every single Comic, Manga and Graphic Novel has a main character, the protagonist, the hero, the one everybody relies on and that’s a good thing, that’s an extremely essential part of any story and it’s a staple for every tale but I feel like it is also something that gets taken overboard in many situations and you tend to only realise just how essential and powerful some characters are when they’re put in a situation where in which they will work along side other, less important, characters despite their role in their respective stories.
Let me put this in context for you all: Superman. The titular character of his own Comics and a world renown hero, he has every power you could ever want, he can fly, he has heat vision, he has freeze breath and essentially he can only be killed by one thing, a thing that is incredibly rare, so Superman is an unstoppable force of justice in the comic book world. Superman is given all these attributes because, within his own world, he is meant to be the best and that’s understandable but what happens when you slot him into something like The Justice League or even the recently released game Injustice: Gods Among us? While all these other characters are the very best in their own series’ who comes out on top when they’re all together? It’s Superman and unfortunately while the other heroes do what they can to save the day it’s really just a big waiting game, when will Superman turn up to save the day?
Don’t think for a second that my lack of interest in the world of DC Comics means I am going to be biased because my next example comes from a a series that is very close to my heart. The next series I want to talk about is Shonen Jump‘s Dragon Ball Z. We all know about Dragon Ball Z, we all know Goku, I think that Goku and Superman are extremely similar in that they’re the most powerful a character can ever be and that leaves no room for others to step in and take the spotlight, if anything I think Goku is even worse than Superman when it comes to this because at least the comic Superman is in is called Superman, it’s obvious he has to be the strongest, but Goku is from a Manga called Dragon Ball Z which means that there is room for others to step in and maybe save the day. Are you following me on this one?
A recent conversation with a co-worker forced me to think this topic over. Goku has been revived so many times throughout the series and while we all loved it because our favourite, spikey-haired, hero was back it also makes us care less about every other character in the series. I’m going to skip through a lot of story but I’m going to assume that if you’re reading this you know all about DBZ. Gohan is Goku’s son and, after what happened in the Buu Saga of the series, he is infinitely more powerful than Goku, why didn’t Gohan then take on the lead role of the series? People still love Gohan, maybe just as much as Goku so it’s not like it was the choice of the audience, so why keep him around? Why not let someone else be the one to save the day? Yes I know what you’ll all say “but Frank, Gohan killed Cell”, yes, he did…while the ghost of his recently deceased father, Goku, allowed him to use his power through time and space or whatever reason they gave it.
Now I want to flip the coin. The Graphic Novel, Sharknife, is a quirky, super sentai, style story that revolves around a boy who works at a Chinese Restaurant that, when he eats a special fortune cookie, turns into the mighty hero Sharknife. Within his own story Sharknife is the be all and end all, why is this? Because really there is only Sharknife and his mortal enemy OrcaSword, yes there are some minor characters that come and go but at the end of the day it’s just him and it’s just his enemy, there’s not a slew of other characters that could potentially do the job like there is in DBZ and in the Superman comics. This is where I find it works the best, because there literally is no other option, they’re is one hero and one villain and the only ones that can stop each other are…each other.
That’s not to say Sharknife is a better Comic than Superman is, nor is Superman better than Dragon Ball Z, it’s just the way that the series’ are planned. Some people enjoy it that way while some don’t and that’s fine because it’s all subjective anyway. It doesn’t mean I hate these titles, not at all, I just feel that some titles need to have have less emphasis on certain characters considering that, in this day and age, you’ll find that audiences tend to make the lesser characters their favourites because there’s so much of a cast, it’s just unfortunate to see that those characters don’t get enough time to shine. Let me know what you think about this in the comments section below, let me know if you think I’m wrong or would just like to talk things over in a little more depth, let’s start a discussion!
It is unknown if the game will receive the Hyper Drive upgrade, but hopefully an official announcement by WayForward will clear things up. The studio should be making an announcement in the coming weeks. The team at WayForward mentioned that bringing Mighty Switch Force 2 to the Wii U is “kind of a backburner project right now”, but this is still great news for fans of the Mighty Switch Force series. The announcement is not too much of a surprise, as the game was submitted to the ratings board to receive a rating on the Wii U in mid July.
Bushiroad has something for everyone with their card games.
Card game fanatics were in for a real treat at SMASH! 2013 with the Bushiroadcard games room catering to both newbies and veterans. With card games workshops to help introduce and teach players to the several types of games and even a series of highly competitive tournaments, they had players of all skill levels covered.
Whether it is Cardfight!! Vanguard, Weiss Schwartz, Yu-Gi-Oh! or even Pokemon, attendees were able to get up close and personal with the cards and get in on the action with workshops to help players learn the games and tournaments to test players abilities.
While Pokemon and Yu-Gi-Oh! attracted a lot of interest from veteran players who have been playing the games for years, there was definitely an evident turning of tides with Cardfight!! Vanguard and Weiss Schwartz garnering a great deal of attention from both newbies and veterans interested in these exciting games.
Many had their first card fight at SMASH! 2013
Bushiroad held several tournaments on the day, with a tournament for Cardfight!! Vanguard, Weiss Schwartz, Yu-Gi-Oh! and Pokemon all taking place. The competition was red hot with only a limited number of competitors even making the cut to enter the battle for a chance to win some great prizes.
The biggest tournament was definitely the Pokemon TCG tournament sponsored by Beyond Home Entertainment, showing that the series has not at all faded in the hearts of fans after all these years.
Stand up, Vanguard!
If you are intrigued by the whole card games phenomenon and want to get your hands on some of the Bushiroad card games, you can check out the official Bushiroad website to find your local card games distributor. You can also check Bushiroad out on Facebook and Twitter for all the latest updates on Bushiroad card games.
Get ready to blow stuff up over and over again with Narco Terror. Described as a “love letter to 80s action games”, this title packs a ton of bullets, enemies and explosions onto one screen with drop in, drop out co-op multiplayer. While there are plenty of modern updates to keep the retro feel alive, it’s not enough to save the game from painfully repetitive gameplay. For ten bucks though it’s not a terrible experience, as old school arcade fun never dies!
Gameplay
Narco Terror plays the exact same way you’d expect it to – if it moves, shoot it. If it doesn’t move, it’ll probably explode so you should shoot it too. For those unaware of how “twin stick shooters” like this work, you run around from a top view perspective, moving with the left analogue stick and shooting with the right. Personally I’ve found many titles of the genre often have general control issues, but Narco Terror’s controls are very responsive and maintain a good weight. As a result the player feels in control, making it a rather enjoyable experience. Enemies are generally weak and stupid, but make up for it with massive numbers. With bullets flying non-stop and countless opponents on screen, Narco Terror has a very old school arcade vibe. Sadly level design is basic and with the same opponents copy & pasted all over the place gameplay gets repetitive really fast. Deep Silver probably were aware of this during development and tried to keep gameplay fresh by throwing in a few mini games. Honestly, these are a hit and miss and don’t add much more to the experience. In fact, most are rather vanilla and will just have the player wanting to get it over and done with as quickly as possible. A basic upgrade system is also in place but again it adds little to the game. Power ups such as flamethrowers are fun, accomplishing what these mini games set out for but they are seldom seen. Furthermore aside from picking between four different unlockable weapons, players can also switch between four types of ammo which also slightly effect the gameplay. It’s an attempt to add depth to this very basic title which is a nice inclusion, even if it doesn’t do much for the game.
The big selling point of Narco Terror is it’s drop in, drop out co-op multiplayer. The game is truly designed to be played with a friend, with both local and online co-op available. Some slow down is to be expected which does take away from the experience slightly, but it’s not a deal breaker. However Narco Terror is a title that really drags on. The campaign goes for about four hours, but after the first you’ve seen pretty much everything, making it a really repetitive and boring experience. Sure the core gameplay is fun at first but it gets really stale really fast. In multiplayer, the cut scenes are also done in a rather lazy fashion, as they only show player one as opposed to both players. However during the entire game, including when you’re playing solo, the opponents will refer to the protagonist as “them” implying that there are two players playing. It’s a small thing that doesn’t ruin the game, but it seems pretty sloppy. Some glitches and bugs were also present, but again it’s no deal breaker.
Audio & Visual
The worst terror of Narco Terror is it’s camera. For the most part it’s pushed really far back, distancing it from the player. Sure this could be to provide that retro feel, but most of the time it feels like you’re controlling an insignificant ant. Sometimes the camera gets in a little closer but generally it’s far off. Perhaps if it was closer more often things could turn out a bit more interesting. Furthermore the camera is always set in fixed positions, (you know, like old school Resident Evil) which can be occasionally awkward. Aside from that graphics are generally a mixed bag. While textures for the backgrounds can be detailed, character models are not and are usually a rough around the edges. The protagonist is also rather unlikeable in appearance, and the second player is just the same with a lazy pallet swap. Sound effects are also a mixed bag, with explosions sounding like explosions and guns sounding like bubble wrap paper being popped. Voice acting is painfully average with even worse dialogue. The soundtrack on the other hand is rather decent with plenty of variety. Influences range from dubstep, rock, drum & bass and even reggae. At least that’s one thing that’s consistent.
Overall Narco Terror is a hit-and-miss title that gets as much wrong as it does right. Drop in, drop out multiplayer is done well but at the cost of some occasional frame rate issues. It masters that retro arcade vibe and has a decent soundtrack but repetitive gameplay and awkward camera holds it back from reaching it’s full potential. There are some nice bells and whistles thrown in such as ammo selection and power ups but ultimately it all boils down to a very repetitive experience that will eventually bore the player. However the foundations of a really fun title are present, with it’s heart in the right place. A recommend for hardcore retro fans only.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
Comic Book Heroes follows the life and trials of two struggling comic book entrepreneurs; Wolfgang Bylsma and Skye Walker Ogden, and their Australian company; Gestalt Publishing. Trying to crack into the American comic book market, which is almost completely dominated by Marvel and DC is no short feat, and the struggles that the team at Gestalt go through will make you cheer for their successes, and genuinely wish them well for the future.
Story
The comic book industry is one of the most unique and interesting on the planet. Typically the phrase “comic books” is closely linked to Batman, Superman, Spider-Man, Marvel, X-Men or DC. The superhero genre overwhelms the market, and the “Big Two” dominate because of it. However, the industry, and the artform go so much deeper than that. Ask any self-proclaimed comic-book aficionado out there, and they will tell you that the real heart and soul of comic books and graphic novels lies in the small, independent publishers.
Comic Book Heroes follows the life, trials and successes of one of these small, independent publishers; Gestalt Publishing. Created by two Aussies, Wolfgang Bylsma and Skye Walker Ogden, Gestalt tries its hardest to make ends meet in a market that is dominated by two gargantuan corporations, and an environment that almost necessitates being based in America.
The two hard-working, yet struggling businessmen, along with their amazing crew of creators (which includes an Academy Award winning animator) want their company to succeed and they know there is only one place to go; San Diego Comic Con. Following this team of passionate individuals along their journey is an emotional experience and you really find yourself wanting them to succeed.
Bylsma’s passion and drive are both immediately apparent at the beginning of the documentary, and throughout you can really empathize with him as a person. Anyone can have a dream, but it takes someone of incredible strength and character to endure the types of hardships that Bylsma has in order to make his dream into a reality. Everything from dealing with late shipping to printers screwing up and even illness while in the middle of San Diego.
That isn’t to say that Ogden doesn’t have an incredible amount of passion too. Normally based in Tokyo, he is forced to live with his Japanese in-laws as he cannot make enough money from Gestalt to financially support himself and his wife. We see Ogden’s wife and in-laws a few times, and they all appear to be 100% supportive despite the dire times.
The emotional connection is part of what makes this documentary a feeling of realness. There are no phoned-in performances here, just the real life story of the little Australian publishing company that could. Organising the small company’s first trip to Comic Con, which has over 120,000 visitors a year is by no means a small feat, and the pressure looks like it really does get to Bylsma, who for a good portion of the program looks like he is about to snap at a moment’s notice. All of the members of Gestalt Publishing and their drive and determination are all raw and unhindered, giving a true account of how tough a mistress the industry can be. Part of the program that really stuck out for me was that it was uncensored. F and C-bombs were getting dropped throughout and it added to that feeling of raw intensity and passion from the Gestalt team members.
Comic Book Heroes is really the story of the Little Aussie Battler, and I think this will allow it to resonate with all Australians, not just “Comic Book Nerds.” We are let into the lives of these guys for around 18 months, and by the end of it, will genuinely be invested in their future and where the team will go from here. The investment comes not only from the passion and determination, but also in the fact that these guys are trying the impossible; they are trying to grab hold of the tightly-sealed market that is the comic book industry.
Visuals & Audio
The production values for Comic Book Heroes are a mixed blessing. Much of the program is filmed with simple handheld cameras. Although this causes a dip in some of the visual quality in segments, it makes the whole presentation feel like it is a video blog. it helps us to feel like these guys and girls are actively letting us into their lives as opposed to just watching a TV show.
Splicewd through the program are scenes of Comic-Cons cosplayers, as well as nerddom icons like Kevin Smith and Stan “The Man” Lee (Eagle eyed viewers will also notice the briefest of cameo’s by one of cosplay’s biggest stars; Jessica Nigri). Seeing some examples of the attendees of the biggest pop culture convention in the world really brings to life how enthusiastic fandom can be.
Cosplay, Fandom, Nerddom and Pop Culture Lovers come in all shapes and sizes, and you can see that just from these few splices segments. Ranging from people who will spend hundreds of hours (and dollars) meticulously creating a costume of an obscure character from an obscure anime, to those who “just wanted to dress up,” it is all encompasing, and it shows clearly.
I personally would have liked to see a little bit more from the celebrity cameos. People like Kevin Smith have such a depth of insight into the industry and how it operates, and it would have been interesting to hear more than a few passing sentences from him.
If there is one complaint I have with Comic Book Heroes it is the sound. Audio-wise Comic Book Heroes can struggle a bit. Some of the recording sessions suffer from a bit of echo and this can make some sections difficult to understand. Across the two episodes these instances are few and far between, and from the nature of how the program was filmed they were almost unavoidable. Regardless, It would have been nice if a little bit more of the budget was spent on audio recording.
Overall
Gestalt Publishing, Wolfgang Bylsma, Skye Walker Ogden. These aren’t likely to become household names in the near future, but Comic Book Heroes shows that they damn well should be. The documentary offers a real insight into the difficult world of comic book development. From the ecstatic highs of having a book made into an animated series, to the crushing lows of not having any books to sell at Comic Con, Comic Book Heroes feels real, raw and makes you wish for nothing but good things from these little Aussie battlers.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
With SMASH! 2013 coming to a close it was time for one last performance. Only this time, it wasn’t guests or panelists taking to the stage, it was the cosplayers. The fans who go the extra mile and create costumes that make you wonder how they did it. For the Madman Cosplay Competition, costumed attendees gathered from across the convention hall in order to win the grand prize: a return flight to Tokyo!
The stage was set, the music playing. Showtime!
The competition was extremely varied. From warriors to schoolgirls, angels to Italian plumbers. There was even an appearance by Finnpool, the unholy fusion of, you guessed it, Finn and Deadpool. Strange. At one point the stage was packed with a swarm of One Piece cosplayers, Monkey D. Luffy, Zoro, Crocodile…Monkey D. Luffy again. Even Buggy made an appearance. Whilst some cosplayers simply showed off their costumes, others prepared skits to go along with their assumed identities. These included a Love Live dance performance and and a very…suggestive musical performance by Naruto and Sasuke.
SMASH! guest Haruko Momoi joined the panel of judges, ready to choose the winner from the numerous entrants. After deliberating for some time, a winner was revealed. Sporting a very detailed suit of armour and now one return flight ticket heavier, I present the mysterious winner:
I don’t think that’ll get through customs
Congratulations to all those who entered and showed off their cosplay costumes, an awesome effort by all. See for below.
Ittle Dew Developer: Ludosity Publisher:Ludosity Platforms: PC (Reviewed), Mac, Linux Release Date:23rd July, 2013 Price: $13.99 – Available Here
Overview
Ludosity have created an indie-adventure-puzzler game, Ittle Dew, with the likes of a Zelda and Pokémon-themed island and alluring fantastical atmosphere. Ittle Dew is the protagonist with a careless and humorous attitude, partnered up with his own foxy sidekick, Tippsie. When the duo become stranded on an unknown island, they must conquer every puzzle for a chance at survival. However, it’s important to distinguish whether the game build’s new ground for players to remember or has become another unchanged carbon-copy?
Story
Peacefully drifting on a raft to crash landing on a seemingly remote island, Ittle Dew and Tippsie begin their adventure through the dark caves, fiery mountains and open forests, towards the huge castle. During their travels, they discover a wide range of strange creatures- who are neither friendly nor normal. In order to get through the island alive, Ittle Dew and Tippsie are on a mission to collect a rare artifact within the castle, in return for a hand-made raft from the craftsman, Itan. The vague storyline lacks creativity, with no real back-story or reasoning for these events. However, the main focus of the game is on the player’s progression, which is outlined through their movement in the sketched maps of each level. From this point of view, players can monitor completed rooms, reach treasure locations and take the most logical path to the next floor area. As can be expected, players will find that there is no simple path or easy-access professional shortcuts to completing the game; without dedication, cleverness, relentless practice and the right ‘magical’ equipment.
Gameplay
If you are looking for a mind-blowing challenge, with quick-thinking and tactical strategising, than this is the ideal game for you. Ittle Dew throws players into an endless spiral of puzzles, with a wide range of rooms leading to more than one door and several different outcomes. With the smart-aleck advice from Tippsie’s notes (don’t let the name confuse you) and frequent signage within each new area, Ittle Dew is given hints to solve particular riddles. The reason for this extra help, is because there is no other options in modes of difficulty; all players must face the same degree of complexity in problem solving. I think this was quite cunning, in terms of creating a relatable gaming experience for players.
To consecutively progress within the game, players are encouraged to find hidden treasure chests inside and outside the castle, to collect gold coins and spend their money at Itan’s shop for elemental and magical weapons; a fire sword, magic crystal and portal wand. These specific items are essential in completing certain puzzles, and destroying enemies and bosses. However, players don’t instantly receive their purchased handy-craft from Itan’s shop, until they complete the first level of another puzzle. Additionally, there are other collectibles in hidden tombs throughout the game, including health upgrades in the form of paper scraps and unique trading cards of creatures.
The mysterious and enthralling environments provide the perfect location for exploration and assuming the role of a lovable character, Ittle Dew. The young boy’s innocent appearance contrasts with his obscene and malevolent behaviour; eating enemy’s hearts for health gain and utilising his powerful weapons to destroy enemies. I particularly took pleasure in obliterating costumed-monsters (especially axe-swindling chameleons) via teleporting them with my portal wand to spiky surfaces.
Ittle Dew delivers a mouthful of humour, reminiscent of child-like behaviour (such as the five-second rule) which improves the level of engagement and enjoyable nature of gameplay. Players receive hilarious awards, including a Masterfully Executed Failure (teleport a flying axe so that it hits you anyway) and Stratospheric Picnic (Launch a Pancake enemy into the air). The game compliments itself by identifying with the Legend of Zelda, with a bizarre vibe of parody. Ludosity did not create a carbon-copy of pre-made games, but rather excelled in the combination of genres, that give the player a spark of reminiscence from the time of Pokémon and, of course, Zelda.
Visuals & Audio
The amazingly hand-drawn, HD wobble and animation graphics are not only visually stunning, but create a sense of vibrancy and vivid alertness. Accordingly, Ittle Dew’s soundtrack brings to life the adventure, with an electronic, virtual orchestra of xylophones, piano, and jovial drumbeats. The audio is distinctive and adds to the game’s atmosphere, especially during combat and warping back and forth between the castle floors.
Overall
Ittle Dew is a wonderful (and addictive) game, that would suit all players who love adventures, puzzles and strategy. Although the story narrative is limited in depth, the complexity is seen through the consistency in challenging levels of the game; mentally testing the player’s perseverance and patience. The indie title, Ittle Dew, is definitely a stand-out game, that adds an extra level of enjoyment through humour, witty dialogue and an overall interesting adventure.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be foundhere.
